SC Dismissed State's Petition Against T. Harish Rao
Based on a complaint filed by Siddipet-based real estate businessman Chakradhar Goud in 2024, the Panjagutta police had registered a case, alleging illegal tapping of his phone by Harish Rao and Radhakishan Rao.
Hyderabad: In a relief to BRS senior leader T. Harish Rao, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a special leave petition filed by the Telangana government in connection with a phone tapping case registered against him with the Panjagutta police. The apex court bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan declined to intervene with the Telangana High Court’s order that had earlier quashed the FIR registered against Harish Rao and former DCP Radhakishan Rao.
Based on a complaint filed by Siddipet-based real estate businessman Chakradhar Goud in 2024, the Panjagutta police had registered a case, alleging illegal tapping of his phone by Harish Rao and Radhakishan Rao. They approached the Telangana High Court seeking quashing of the FIR. In March 2024, the High Court ruled that there was no evidence linking them to the alleged offence.
The complainant challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court, which the apex court dismissed. The Telangana government again moved the Supreme Court on June 18 last, arguing that the investigation was ongoing and that Harish Rao needed to be questioned.
The apex court held that there was no justification to reopen the matter, particularly in view of the detailed and reasoned findings already recorded by the High Court. The apex court bench noted that a similar special leave petition filed earlier by Chakradhar Goud, real estate businessman and Congress leader, had been dismissed, and questioned how the state could seek a different outcome in proceedings arising from the same set of allegations. The court observed that the police could not expect two contradictory verdicts on identical charges.
The state, represented by senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, argued that Harish Rao had ordered the alleged phone-tapping through Radhakishan Rao and sought permission to continue the investigation. The apex court bench refused to entertain the request, stating that there was no fresh material warranting intervention. It also declined the state’s plea to reconsider specific portions of the High Court judgment.
